Raphinha’s Barcelona contract renewal ceremony scheduled for Thursday

Barcelona are expected to officially confirm Raphinha’s contract extension on Thursday, keeping the Brazil forward at the club until 2030, barring a late change.

The ceremony has been delayed several times in recent weeks because of scheduling issues, but the agreement itself was settled some time ago. According to Catalan newspaper Sport, the formal signing is now planned for Thursday.

Barcelona sporting director Deco and Raphinha previously met at a restaurant to complete the final details of the player’s continued stay at the club. The meeting ended with a full agreement between the two parties, leaving only the official procedures to be completed.

Deco later confirmed during a meeting of the club’s representatives that the renewal process had already been concluded. The delay in staging the ceremony was caused solely by clashes in the club’s schedule and was not connected to any disagreement between Barcelona and the player.

Thursday has emerged as a suitable date because Barcelona played Aston Villa in the Champions League on Tuesday evening and are due to hold a recovery session on Wednesday.

Hansi Flick is highly likely to give his players a day off on Thursday, although the final decision remains with the German manager. A day without sporting commitments would make it easier for Barcelona to hold the renewal ceremony.

From Friday, the squad will turn its attention to Sunday’s important meeting with Atletico de Madrid. Barcelona are due to complete their final training session on Saturday before travelling to the Spanish capital.

Raphinha enjoying outstanding spell

The renewal comes during one of the strongest periods of Raphinha’s career. The 29-year-old reinforced that impression on Tuesday by scoring twice against Aston Villa in the Champions League.

His contribution went beyond the goals. Raphinha maintained an intense work rate throughout the match, applying constant pressure and ranking among the most active players off the ball. His efforts repeatedly disrupted Aston Villa’s attempts to build play from defence and produced an all-round performance that underlined his readiness to make a decisive impact in major matches.

His influence also extends beyond his statistics. Raphinha is regarded as one of Barcelona’s leaders and an important presence in the dressing room, particularly for younger players who value his professionalism and commitment during every training session.

Flick is also a strong admirer of the Brazil international. The manager appreciates Raphinha’s daily dedication and his willingness to work for the team, including when that requires him to operate well away from the opposition penalty area. His performance against Aston Villa provided another illustration of the value he offers to the manager.

Barcelona’s sporting department considers the presence of a player with Raphinha’s quality and experience to be a significant asset.

Raphinha, for his part, remains fully committed to Barcelona’s project and has never hidden his desire to continue with the club.